Drain with valved trap



1956 P. R. POWELL 2,770,315

DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP Filed. Jan. 7, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.Paul R. Powell A TTORNEYS.

P. R. POW ELL DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP 2 Sheets-Shea?- 2 Filed Jan. 7,1953 INVENTOR. Paul R. P0 well.

A mm ma M v Q.

A T TORNE VS.

United States Patent 2,770,315 DRAIN WITH VALVED TRAP Paul R. Powell,Kansas City, Mo.

Application January 7, 1953, Serial N 0. 330,061

1 Claim. (Cl. 182-15) This invention relates to floor drains andparticularly to those of the type which include a back water trap andhas for its principal object to provide a drain of this character,wherein the back water trap is fully submerged within a relatively largeand deep water seal thereby assuring against escape of sewer gases.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a floor drain with a backwater control mechanism adapted to be inserted and removed as a unit tofacilitate cleaning of the water bowl and other sections of the trap, topro vide a ground joint between the removable unit and the bowl portionof the trap, to provide a trap of large water capacity and having alimited open evaporating surface, to provide an external integrallyformed Water seal in addition to the water seal of the back flowcontrol, and to provide a water seal partition between the exteriorwater seal and the water bowl, thereby assuring sufficient water to sealthe back flow control.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

'Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a floor drain constructed in accordancewith the present invention, parts of which are broken away to betterillustrate the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 22 of the Fig.3. a

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the floor-drainparticularly illustrating the water level in the exterior seal and inthe lower bowl portions of the drain.

Fig. 4 is a section through a modified form of back flow trap unit.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a floor drain constructed in accordance with the presentinvention and which preferably includes "a casing 2 unitary constructionwhich may be formed of cast metal. The casing 2 consists of an upperdrain portion 3, a lower bowl portion 4, a water seal portion '5 and aclean-out portion 6. The drain portion includes 'an annular wall 7having an outwardly extending flange 8 which extends part way around thecircumference thereof and which cooperates with an inwardly extendingflange 9 to accommodate an internal annular shoulder or ledge 10 whichseats the peripheral portion of a strainer plate 11. Extending inwardlyfrom the base portion of the wall 7 is an annular ledge 12 whichencircles an opening 13 that is preferably concentric with the strainerplate 11 and which permits insertion of a back flow trap unit 14 to belater described.

The bowl portion 4 extends downwardly from the ledge portion 12 and isof substantially elongated cross section as shown in Fig. 3. The lowerbowl portion 4 includes substantially parallel side walls 15 and 16connected at one end by a substantially semi-cylindrical end wall 17which is substantially concentric with the opening 13 and the strainerplate 11. The lower portions of the walls 15, 16, and 17, interconnecton rounding curves as indi- ,catedat to form a rounded bottom 19 for thelower 2,770,315 Patented Nov. 13, 1956 bowl portion 4 so as tofacilitate cleaning thereof upon removal of the back flow trap unit aslater described.

The end wall 20 of the lower bowl portion 4 opposite the wall 17 slopesdownwardly and forwardly to cooperate with a transverse partition 21 infonning an outlet 22 to the water seal portion 5 of the casing 2.

The bottom 19 joins with the partition 21 in a rounding curve 23corresponding with the curvature 18 of the opposite end wall 17. Thesloping end Wall 20 has a transversely arched upper portion 24 whichjoins with the lower portion of the cylindrical wall 7 of the drainportion of the trap while the lower portion of the wall 20 narrows asindicated at 25 to join with the water seal portion 5.

The water seal portion 5 is substantially U-shaped and has a down-leg 26and an up-leg 27 that are connected by a substantially semi-circularconnection 28.

The down-leg 26 is formed on one side by the partition 21 and on theopposite side by the restricted portion 25 of the wall 20 and a verticalwall portion 29 that joins therewith as best shown in Fig. 3. The othersides of the legs and the connecting portion 28 are formed bytransversely rounding side walls 30 and 31, Fig. l, which are integrallyjoined to provide a U-shaped water duct 32 through the water sealportion 5. The duct 32 is therefore substantially oval in cross sectionas shown in Fig. 2 to give the required flow capacity and at the sametime shorten the overall length of the floor drain.

The upper portion of the leg 27 joins with an outlet 33 having aconventional shaped end. 34 for connection with the usual soil pipe orsoil pipe fitting (not shown) through which the drain is connected witha sewer line (also not shown).

The outlet portion 33 is preferably of circular cross section throughoutthe major length thereof and joins with the wider leg portion 27 of theseal by diverging wall portions 35 as shown in Fig. 2. Extendingupwardly and rearwardly in substantially parallel relation with thedownwardly inclined wall 20 and spaced therefrom in accordance with thespacing 36 between the leg portions 26 and 27 of the seal is the cleanout portion 6. The clean out portion is preferably of cylindrical crosssection for entrance of a clean out tool (not shown) in case the sewerconnection should become clogged.

The clean out portion has a neck portion 37 having a flat top 38 inplane with the upper face 39 of the strainer plate 11, as best shown inFig. 3. The top 38 of the clean out portion has an internally threadedopening 40 in which is inserted an externally threaded plug 41. The plug41 has a socket portion 42 adapted to be engaged by a suitable wrench(not shown) so that it may be readily turned within and removed from theopening 40 when required.

In order to strengthen the connection of the clean out and seal portionswith respect to the bowl portion 4 of the casing, the clean out portionis connected with the downwardly inclined wall portion 20 of the bowlportion 4 by a relatively narrow Web or tie 43 as best shown in Figs. 1and 3.

With this arrangement all exterior wall portions of the floor drain arereadily accessible for inspections as to any imperfections in theconstruction that might cause leakage of sewer gases into the water bowlsection of the trap.

The leg portions 26 and 27 of the seal portion 5 and the water bowlportion 4 are of sufficient depth to accommodate at least a standarddepth of water seal and in accordance with various plumbing codes.

The upper portion of the partition 21 preferably terminates in aninclined lip 44 extending parallel with the inclined wall portion 20 soas to direct any back flow that may occur through the seal section ofthe trap on top of the check valve of the back water control or trapunit 14, now to be described.

The back water control or trap unit 14 includes a circular head platethat cooperates with the ledge 12 in forming the bottom of the draincompartment 46 in the drain section 3 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

Formed concentrically with the head plate 45 is an opening 47 to a duct48 that depends into the water bowl portion of the casingas shown inFigs. 1 and 3.

The duct 48 has an enlarged inlet 49 where it joins with the under sideof the plate 45 and the lower end terminates in a laterally extendingduct or terminal 59 which is supported in spaced relation With thebottom and end walls of the bowl portion 4 of the casing to provideample space 51 for collecting any debris that may drop out of the liquidwhich flows into the bowl portion.

The duct may have a flat top 52 and substantially flat sides 53 and 54that are joined in rounding end walls 55 and 56. The bottom 57preferably joins with the side walls 5354 and the end walls 55-56 inrounding curves 58. Formed in the top 52 substantially concentric withthe curved end wall 55 is an opening or outlet 59 for containing a checkvalve seat member 66*. The seat member 60 includes an annular collar 61that is pressed into the opening 59 and engages an annular stop flange62 with the upper face of the top 52 to provide a water-tight sealtherebetween.

Extending upwardly from the flange 62 on the side of the seat memberopposite the partition 21 is an ear 63 for pivotally mounting a yoke 64of a lever 65 that pivotally carries a check valve 66.

The check valve 66 is preferably of disk shape and has a fiat bottomface 67 adapted to engage an annular upward extension 69 of the seatmember as shown in Fig. 3.

The upper face of the check valve has spaced ears 7!) which receive thelever 65 therebetween for pivotal connection therewith by a pivot pin71. The lever extends forwardly of the pivot connection to provide astop 72 which cooperates with theopposite end of the lever to hold thecheck valve in substantially parallel relation with the arm and therebyprovide for full opening of the outlet when the check valve is open.

The lug 63 has an upwardly directed stop 73 which limits the openingmovement of the check valve and prevents swinging thereof past aposition where it will not return vi to seated position when the flow issuspended. The trap unit 14 thus described is substantially L-shaped andis adapted for insertion through the drain portion 3 and opening 13 'byinserting first the duct 50 and then turning the unit 'so that theportion 48 passes substantially vertically through the opening 13 toseat the plate 45 upon the ledge 12.

In order to assure a gas-tight seal between the plate 45 and the ledge12, the parts are preferably provided with inlaid rings 75 and 76 andwhich have'interengaging ground faces 77. The plate is anchored inposition to retain the trap unit by fastening devices such as cap screws78 that are inserted through openings 79 in the plate and into threadedsockets 80 that are provided in the ledge 12 as best shown in Fig. 3.

The drain as thus described is readily installed in the same manner asany conventional drain with the strainer plate and upper faces 38 and 39of the cleanout portion 6 and drain portion in plane with the floorlevel and the outlet 33 is connected with the conventional soil pipe.When water is poured through the openings of the strainer plate 11, itflows from the drain compartment 46 through the opening 47 into the duct48 of the back'fiow trap unit 14.

The hydrostatic head of the water in the ducts 43 and 50 cause the checkvalve 66 to swing open so that the water fills the bowlportion 4 to thepoint where the water flows over the lip 44. The check valve'66 is nowcovered with water'so that a water seal is formed about the'check valve.As the flow continues the water starts to'fillthe U-shaped trap of theseal portion 5 of the drain. If the water flow continues, the waterflows through the discharge connection 33 into the soil pipe (notshown). When the flow stops, a water level 82 and 83 is established inthe seal and bowl portions which is well above the level of the backflow check valve 66, even when the check valve 66 is swung to openposition. The high level of liquid also assures ample water in the sealportion of the drain and over the check valve 66 even aftersubstantially long periods between flow of water into the floor drain.Very little evaporation occurs because of the relatively small Watersurfaces that are openly exposed. It is to be noted that the slopingwall 20 and vertical wall 29 together form a part of said casing thatcloses off the vapor space above the water level 83 and which extendsbelow the level of the valved outlet of the back flow trap unit so thata seal is formed even though the water level should drop to the pointwhere the outlet of the back flow trap is uncovered. The space above theliquid is thus a dead space in that it is sealed from the drain outlet33, consequently the only surface of the liquid subject to evaporationis the surface of the liquid in the up-leg 27.

In case it becomes necessary to clean out the lower bowl portion, theback flow trap unit 14 is readily withdrawn upon removal of the strainerplate 11 and of the fastening devices 78. After the fastening devices 78are removed, the plate portion 45 is lifted upwardly through the opentop of the drain. The unit 14 may then be tilted so as to permitwithdrawal of the lateral duct 50 through the opening 13. The trap unitmay then be cleaned and any accumulations may be removed from the bowlportion of the casing through the opening 13. The latter cleaningoperation is facilitated because of the rounded bottom of the bowlsection.

The inlet to the down flow leg 26 is also readily inspected and cleaned;After the bowl portion 4 of the casing has been cleaned, the unit isreadily replaced as above described and the water-tight seal is assuredbecause of the ground faces 77 of the seal rings 75 and "76 and theretention "thereof by the fastening devices '78.

In case of back flow of the water from the sewer connection 33, thewater flows through 22 and over the lip onto the top of the check valve66. The back flow of water may substantially fill the bowl portion butthe pressure of the water keepsthe check valve 66 seated toprevent anyflow into the strainer portion of the casing.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of trap unit which has an inletopening 84, sufficiently large to permit insertion of the hand. Theoutlet 85 of the unit is positioned so that the check valve seat 86 isfully submerged and is in convenient position to be reached by thefingers of the hand for cleaning purposes.

In places where the plumbing code does not allow a clean-out on thesewer side of the water seals, the cleanout section 6 may be omitted. Inthis case the sewer connection may be cleaned out after removal of theback water unit so that the clean out device such asa flexible cable(not shown), may be inserted through the U-trap 5 portion.

From the foregoing itis obvious that I have provided a floor drain whichincludes a back water trap having :-a substantially large water sealcapacity and wherein the back flow unit 14 is maintained in submergencebelow the water seal under the most severe operating conditions. It isalso obvious that a double seal is provided to assure against leakage ofsewer gases into the house in which the drain is installed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters'Patent is:-

A floor drain including a casing having a lower bowl portion and anupper drain portion, 1a back-flow trapunit having a substantiallyvertical duct extending into the lower bowl portion and of a sizerelatively to said'lower bowl portion for providing a substantial spacetherebetween, and having a laterally disposedterminal provided with avalved outlet into said lower bowl portion for passing liquid from theupper drain portion into the said lower bowl portion and for preventingback-flow of liquid to said upper drain of the casing, said verticalduct portion having a flange seated in the upper drain portion to closethe space surrounding said vertical duct portion, said casing having anoutlet between the level of the valved outlet and said flange formaintaining the level of the liquid in said bowl portion above thevalved outlet, said casing having a part extending thereaeross betweenthe lower bowl portion and said outlet and terminating below the levelof the valved outlet to form a liquid seal for establishing a dead-airspace above the level of the liquid in the lower bowl portion :forretarding surface evaporation of said liquid, and a partition extendingupwardly across the interior of the casing between the valved outlet andthe said part of the casing and terminating at a level between thevalved outlet and the outlet in the casing to cooperate with the outletin assuring a Water seal over the valved outlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS260,563 Greenleaf July 4, 1882 287,510 Du Bois Oct. 30, 1883 748,936Edelen Jan. 5, 1904 1,908,819 Boosey May 16, 1933 2,617,491 Ross Nov.11, 1952 2,630,875 Sachs Mar. 10, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,294 GreatBritain Feb. 19, 1885

